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French Open: Novak Djokovic put to test in first-round match

The No. 1-seeded and No. 1-ranked Djokovic pulled out a tight first set en route to a 7-6 (5), 6-4, 7-5 victory.

Novak Djokovic won his opening round at the French Open on Tuesday. (THOMAS COEX / AFP/GETTY IMAGES)

By The Associated Press

Tues., May 28, 2013

PARIS—Novak Djokovic does not try to hide his ambitions. He makes perfectly clear that he wants to win a French Open title more than anything.

Embarking on a bid to complete a career Grand Slam and fill the only glaring hole on his resume, the No. 1-seeded and No. 1-ranked Djokovic pulled out a tight first set en route to a 7-6 (5), 6-4, 7-5 victory Tuesday in the first round against David Goffin, a Belgian who was the surprise of Roland Garros a year ago.

The key moment came in the first-set tiebreaker, with the 58th-ranked Goffin serving at 5-all. After he faulted once, a fan yelled, “Allez, David!” The 22-year-old Goffin then proceeded to miss his second serve, too, for a double-fault that gave Djokovic a set point.

Goffin’s backhand into the net gave the set to Djokovic, who had won fewer total points until then, 39-36.

From then on, though, there were not too many hiccups for Djokovic, although he did get broken at love by Goffin, evening the second set at 4-all. Djokovic broke right back, and was really on his way.

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In 2012, Goffin got into the French Open field as a “lucky loser” — someone who loses in qualifying but is put in the main draw because another player withdrew — and made it all the way to the fourth round. That’s when he got to face Roger Federer, Goffin’s idol, and even took a set off the owner of the most career major titles before losing the match.

Djokovic, meanwhile, lost to seven-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal in the final a year ago in Paris. That ended Djokovic’s 27-match Grand Slam winning streak and, with it, his attempt to earn a fourth consecutive major championship.

Now Djokovic, who has won the Australian Open four times, and the U.S. Open and Wimbledon once each, really would love to pick up his first trophy at Roland Garros to make a full assortment.

“This is the tournament that is the No. 1 priority of my year, of my season,” the Serb said on the eve of the French Open. “This is where I want to win, and I’m going to go for it. I think my game is there, and I’m very, very motivated.”

On Tuesday, he faced a total of only two break points, saving one, while converting 3 of 11 chances against Goffin, who displayed a beautiful touch at the net. Goffin was unafraid to move forward, something seen less and less these days, particularly on red clay.

As Goffin walked off toward the locker room after the match ended, Djokovic stopped what he was doing to join the Court Philippe Chatrier crowd in applauding.

Then it was Djokovic’s turn to speak French to the fans during an interview, a post-match ritual that’s become de rigueur this week. Serena Williams and Nadal did it, too, as did Federer, who has for years.

“It was a good match, I hope you enjoyed it,” Djokovic said. “It was not easy, because David is a good player with a lot of talent and a lot of aggressiveness on the court.”

The match concluded as the sun began to set on Day 3 at the clay-court tournament, where very little action took place because of rain that began in the morning.

There was a delay of more than 2 ½ hours before play could start, and then after only 1 ½ hours of action, another stop of more than an hour. Organizers wound up postponing some matches, meaning players such as Victoria Azarenka, the reigning Australian Open champion, will be slated for first-round action Wednesday, the fourth day of the tournament.

Those who did get to play Tuesday included 2010 French Open runner-up and 2011 U.S. Open champion Sam Stosur, who beat 42-year-old Kimiko Date-Krumm of Japan 6-0, 6-2.

“I was happy to get out there and start,” she said. “It was spitting a little bit when we went out there. You think, ‘Oh, are we going to start or are we not?’ Lucky for me I was able to finish the match before this last downpour came.”

Another Australian, Bernard Tomic — whose father was barred from Roland Garros after being accused this month of head-butting Bernard’s hitting partner — stopped because of a torn right hamstring while trailing Victor Hanescu 7-5, 7-6 (8), 2-1.

American Jack Sock, a 20-year-old qualifier ranked 118th, made a successful Roland Garros debut by beating Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-2, 6-2, 7-5. Sock wore initials on his shoes in honour of two friends who died recently in separate car crashes.

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